We all know that as we age our hearing capacity decreases and gradual hearing loss that occurs as you age (presbycusis) is a common condition. An estimated one-quarter of Americans between the ages of 65 and 75 and around three-quarters of those older than 75 have some degree of hearing loss and some of that loss may be 
correctable. We can’t blame the Who and The Stones for everything though (well maybe portable music players yes) – there may well be other causes leading to this hearing impairment. You can tell a sound is harmful to your ears if you continue to hear ringing after you move away from the sound source.
Signs and symptoms of hearing loss may include:
* Muffled quality of speech and other sounds
* Difficulty understanding words, especially against background noise or in a crowd of people
* Asking others to speak more slowly, clearly and loudly
* Needing to turn up the volume of the television or radio
* Withdrawal from conversations
* Avoidance of some social settings
Possible Causes
Ear damage – Ear infection and abnormal bone growths or tumors of the outer or middle ear can cause hearing loss. A ruptured eardrum also may result in loss of hearing.
Clogged Ears - About 12 million people visit their doctor every year to have earwax removed according the the American Academy of Otolarynology. Clogs which may get clogged with naturally produced ear wax can cause dizziness and pain while diminishing your hearing capacity. Your doctor may use an eyedropper to place a few drops of baby oil, mineral oil or glycerin in your ear to loosen wax, then squirt warm water into your ear using a bulb syringe. As you tilt your ear, the water and eventually the wax, drains out.
Undiagnosed allergy - Adults average about 3 colds per year and if you have more than that or your symptoms last more than two weeks you may want to consider an evaluation for allergies. Continued colds and sinus infections can cause temporary hearing loss by causing the Eustachian tubes to swell and pull liquid into the inner ear space.
NSAIDs - High doses of aspirin (more than 10 a day) or other NSAIDs such as Ibuprofen (800mg 3 times a day)can cause tinnitus – a ringing sound in the head without an external sound source. NSAIDs can also disable the inner ears protective outer hair cells, making the ear more susceptible to damage.
Noise exposure - repeated exposure to such loud noises as guns, artillery, aircraft, lawn mowers, movie theaters, noisy clubs, amplified music, heavy construction, etc., can cause permanent hearing damage and are causes for ringing in the ears, even permanent tinnitus. Tinnitus is typically referred to as “ringing in the ears,” but other forms of sound such as hissing, roaring, pulsing, whooshing, chirping, whistling and clicking have been described. Prevalence estimates of individuals with tinnitus vary widely, from 7.9 million to more than 37 million.
Protect your hearing
According to the American Tinnitus Association there are several things you can do to protect yourself from excessive noise related tinnitus:
- Protect your hearing at work. Your work place should follow Occupational Safety & Health Administration (OSHA) regulations. Wear ear plugs or earmuffs and follow hearing conservation guidelines set by your employer.
- When around any noise that bothers your ears (a concert, sporting event, hunting) wear hearing protection, reduce noise levels or the length of your exposure.
- Even everyday noises, such as blow drying your hair or using a lawnmower, can require protection. Keep ear plugs or earmuffs handy for these activities.
